Columnists

Catholic League sets up football rivalry with North Jersey foes

Quarterback Jack Colyar (12) and Archbishop Wood are tentatively scheduled to play North Jersey’s Bergen Catholic and Pope John Paul XXIII next season.

STEVEN M. FALK

The Philadelphia Catholic League and the North Jersey Super Football Conference (NJSFC) recently struck a deal that will join the two organizations in competition for the 2018 and 2109 seasons.

The 12-game, three-weekend schedule will also showcase Imhotep Charter, of the Philadelphia Public League and Gonzaga (D.C.).

"The future is bright for our conferences and I believe this is only the beginning," NJSFC president Joe Piro said. "Both conferences are committed to strong competition that fosters a positive and exciting football culture."

The details are still being worked out, but four of the 2018 games are expected to be played at Widener University or another Philadelphia area college and five at Rutgers.

CHARLES FOX

Running backs Kolbe Burrell, left, and Marques Mason will lead St. Joseph’s Prep against St. Peter’s Prep (N.J.) next season

PIAA Class 5A state champion Archbishop Wood and 6A runner-up St. Joseph's Prep are slated to play North Jersey powers Bergen Catholic and St. Peter's Prep for the second straight season. Wood hit the road and topped Bergen, 27-21, last year; host St. Joe's Prep turned back St. Peter's Prep, 28-21, at Widener.

Finally, on the weekend of Sept. 14: Wood at Pope John XXIII (N.J.); Father Judge at Montclair (N.J.); and Union City (N.J.) at Archbishop Ryan.

Beloved broadcaster

Anthony J. Iacovelli, a longtime and popular high school sports broadcaster in Lower Bucks County who everyone knew as "Vince Reed," died on Dec. 30.

Mr. Iacovelli, 76, primarily handled the play-by-by duties for Levittown-based WBCB 1490 AM for games involving such schools as Conwell-Egan, Pennsbury, and Neshaminy. He also covered contests across the river in Mercer County.

Mr. Iacovelli, who previously was the play-by-play voice of Villanova football and men's basketball, was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2004.

The Norristown native was elected into the Bucks County chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

NFL combine

Pittsburgh punter Ryan Winslow, a La Salle graduate, has been invited to the NFL combine in Indianapolis next month. He averaged 44.5 yards on 57 punts, with a long of 63, last season.

Winslow's father, George, a La Salle product who played at Wisconsin and Villanova, punted in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns (1987) and New Orleans Saints (1989).

Richmond quarterback Kyle Lauletta, a Downingtown East graduate, has also been invited to the combine. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder is the Spiders' all-time leader in passing yards (10,465), passing touchdowns (73), and total offense (10,651).

Lauletta is set to play in two all-star contests this month: the East-West Shrine game in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Jan. 20 and the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 27.

The 6-3, 220-pounder, who is the son of former Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Mike Mamula, also has offers from Duquesne, Montana, New Hampshire, and Sacred Heart.

Gridiron notes

Neshaminy's Steve Wilmot and Evan Breisblatt, who was Phoenixville's boss for four years, have been selected as assistant coaches for the East squad in the Big 33 Classic at HersheyPark Stadium in June … Germantown Academy junior offensive lineman Elijah Wroten participated in the U.S. Army All-American combine in San Antonio on Friday. Senior teammate and two-way lineman Jack D'Ambrosio is headed to Wesleyan. … St. Joseph's Prep offensive lineman Nick DiPrinzio is bound for Amherst … West Catholic linebacker Rovny Dasilva has committed to play at Kent State. … Sacred Heart has offered Germantown Academy defensive end Jimmy McGettigan and Marple Newtown wide receiver Dash Dulgerian preferred walk-on spots. … Central Bucks East offensive lineman P.J. Szymanski has drawn interest from Football Championship Subdivision schools Bucknell, Delaware, Lehigh, Lafayette, and New Hampshire. The 6-4, 275-pounder plans to visit New Hampshire, the alma mater of C.B. East head coach John Donnelly, the weekend of Jan. 19. … Rutgers has expressed preliminary interest in Penn Wood junior wide receiver Kennedy Poles.